Sigma and PartnerTech sign cooperation agreement

Sigma and PartnerTech sign cooperation agreement - Will deliver total solutions in telecom and medical-technology fields Sigma, the IT consulting company, and PartnerTech, the contract- manufacturer, have signed a cooperation agreement with the objective of being able to make more rapid deliveries of total solutions to customers in the fields of telecommunications and medical technology. Sigma's role is to be responsible for the greater part of product development, while PartnerTech is contributing know-how and resources for the development, prototypes and production. The cooperation is a consequence of demands for shorter "time to market," a driving force in development work whereby customers want to reduce the time from concept to introduction of a new product or service. "In some development projects customers are demanding that suppliers should be able to offer total solutions, including production," says Thomas Pantzar, manager of the Embedded Solutions Business Unit at Sigma. "The cooperation with PartnerTech, increases the possibilities of delivering total solutions in a shorter period. The agreement affects primarily Sigma's Embedded Solutions and Engineering Solutions business areas." Mikael Jonson, PartnerTech's president, emphasizes that the agreement is increasing the company's opportunities to obtain larger and more varied assignments in which customers demand specialized expertise and large resources. "The cooperation is in line with PartnerTech's effort to become part of the customer's process at an early stage," Mikael Jonson says. "In this way we can create greater flexibility and efficiency for customers." PartnerTech, whose shares are listed on the O-List of the Stockholm Stock Exchange, manufactures electronic products on contract for leading growth companies, mainly in telecommunications, information technology and medical technology. The company has approximately 800 employees in three countries. Its largest contracts involve products for use in telecom infrastructure, antenna near products, network equipment, medical- technical instruments and test equipment, among other applications. Sigma, whose shares are also on the O-List, is a leading supplier of consulting services in the areas of e-solution, embedded solutions and engineering solutions. The group, which has more than 2,000 employees in seven countries, focuses on "solutions for interaction, innovation and integration." Sigma's basic objective is to strengthen the competitiveness and brand names of its customers. ....................................... For additional information, please call: ¤ Thomas Pantzar, Business Unit Manager, Sigma AB. Tel: +46 31-778 45 50 / Mobile: +46 709-89 84 40. ¤Mikael Jonson, President, PartnerTech AB. Tel: +46 40-10 26 41 / Mobile: +46 706-78 10 01. ¤ Kenneth Erlandsson, Business Area Engineering Solutions, Sigma AB. Tel: +46 40-660 83 50 / Mobile: +46 709-89 82 00 ¤ Martin Hagbyhn, Marketing Manager, PartnerTech AB. Mobile: +46 705-45 15 17. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/03/08/20000308BIT00560/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/03/08/20000308BIT00560/bit0002.pdf